Drama-filled double

Clinton Hill crosses the finish line after anchoring the Australian 4x400metres relay team to the gold medal last night.Photo: Pat Scala

IT WAS a controversial but golden night for the Australian men and women in the 4 x 400 metres relay last night at the MCG.

While the men cruised over the line in first place without drama, the Australian women's team was later awarded the gold after Tamsyn Lewis led a protest and England was disqualified. Jana Pittman would later say it felt like a hollow victory.

Despite this there were scenes of joy with John Steffensen dancing on the MCG track again and the Australian girls hugging — which could not have been imagined last month.

Last month Pittman had voiced her fears that the women's 4 x 400 relay team could be "unsettled" because of Lewis' poisonous vibe. Lewis had called Pittman a "bitch".

But the women's relay team was settled and united and took home silver. The rift between Pittman and Lewis wasn't visible.

The pair united when Lewis went to talk to the officials about England's Natasha Danvers for lining up out of order. When it turned out that Australia had been awarded the gold Pittman was elated.

"We won gold," Pittman said on hearing the decision. "We did it. We did it."

Then she saw England's Danvers was upset and so Pittman put her arm around her and stopped celebrating.

"As far as we are concerned they are the gold medallists," Pittman then said. "And we've got it by default. Ultimately they are the champions, but if we get it, we have to take it humbly. Look at it, they beat us by 10 metres.

Danvers then said: "That's Australia talking. What else can I say."

Danvers was devastated that Lewis, who ran the same third leg as her, made the protest.